Shopify Black Friday: 20 Ideas, Tips & Strategies to Power Up Your Store

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The most anticipated day for worldwide shoppers is around the corner, and every store owner should be ready for a few grand campaigns. But as a new merchant, what should you bring to the table to make the most of Shopify Black Friday promotions?

This article consists of everything you need to know before initiating this campaign.

It introduces highly attractive and fail-proof promotion types, including BOGO, gift cards, product bundles, upsells, etc. It also suggests other means of enhancement, such as countdown timers, retargeting ads, mobile optimization, and leveraging social proof to help improve your Shopify store conversion rate.

We bet you would be eager to learn about 20 of the best tips and strategies for the special season!

1. 20 Ideas, Tips, & Strategies To Increase Black Friday Sales For Shopify Stores

Start early with teaser campaigns.

Whenever you want to launch promotional campaigns, it is crucial to mentally prepare your customers (and, of course, financially!). They should be informed in advance to keep an eye on your products and be ready to shop during the campaign.

This is because not everyone is aware of special offers like Shopify Black Friday sales.

By giving them a piece of information about your upcoming promotions, you will secure a solid number of potential buyers who are thrilled to purchase from your online store. Plus, starting early will spare you more time to adjust essential aspects of the campaign.

There are various approaches to inform your customers, including website banners and notification bars, SMS, social media channels, and email marketing. Remember to customize the message on each channel to suit different target audiences.

It is best to initiate these messages at least 3-4 days before D-day to create a sense of anticipation. We recommend creating pre-sale offers during this period.

Create exclusive pre-sale offers.

In addition to the teaser campaigns, you should consider creating early-bird offers to a specific number of buyers on Shopify Black Friday.

Pre-sale deals motivate customers to gain special incentives that are not for latecomers, boosting your traffic and sales revenue. It also enhances the excitement even more since the fastest shoppers can enjoy exclusive promotions that others cannot.

Incorporate intriguing messages like “Black Friday happens in 3 days! Get special discounts up to 50% for 20 first purchases!” to trigger quick decision-making. Customers also tend to camp for pre-sale-only gifts to enjoy the sense of exclusivity.

If you want to aim at the most engaged, high-paying customer group, you should offer them VIP access to a separate page with intriguing promotions. For example, segment them into one group and send personalized emails with a unique link to this site.

Use countdown timers

Apart from using a countdown timer for teaser campaigns, you can use it for multiple stages in the campaign, from pre-sales to the end of the Black Friday countdown.

This is to emphasize the limited time your buyers have left to grab the special deals. As a result, they are fully aware of the urgency of the itch to purchase so as not to miss out on the promotions.

Place the timer in noticeable areas of the website with as much visibility as possible. It can be in the form of banners, pop-ups, notification bars, etc., anything you have used in split tests and determined as the most effective media.

Even if you use a third-party countdown timer app, it should look native on your website. Customize the widget according to your preferences, including the start and end times, visual display, etc.

Bundle products for higher value

Who does not want to sell as many products or services as possible, especially for Shopify Black Friday? However, selling independent items may not be the most effective way to increase average order value (AOV) and boost store revenue.

That is why a lot of merchants choose to sell product bundles at a discounted price in promotional campaigns. They stimulate the “buy more, save more” mindset and work to encourage buyers to (actually) spend more but with better-earned shopping value.

You can group 2 or more items into a fixed set or kit so customers can click to buy them as a single product. You can also let shoppers select what they want from your suggestion list, and the system will automatically detect the personalized bundles.

These bundles should consist of relevant goods (e.g., a skincare set) or complementary products (e.g., a camera and a tripod). We suggest using the third-party app BOGOS free gift to create and monitor diverse discount offers, such as product bundles or volume discounts.

Leverage social proof

Recurring customers are ideal for any promotional campaign, but you should also plan what to do with fresh traffic. This could be the first time they visit your website, so merchants need to convince them to purchase in your store.

We suggest asking for feedback from frequent purchase buyers to collect high-quality reviews, both positive and negative. Incentivize them with a free gift or small discount in exchange for these answers.

Display reliable testimonials on the homepage or best-selling product pages, which are the most visited locations. When a new buyer considers buying a product, they will likely look for previous feedback to gain more motivation.

Plus, genuine customer reviews can help you leverage your strengths and address any weaknesses, resulting in better online sales performance.

Offer buy one, get one (BOGO) deals.

In addition to the valuable product bundle offers, you can offer customers special buy one, get one (BOGO) deals during the Shopify Black Friday season. Here is how it works:

When shoppers purchase the trigger product (A), the system automatically adds the other item (B) to their order. This promotion can be set up with Shopify’s default features or a third-party discount app, such as BOGOS by Secomapp that enables complex discount rules, high customization level, and automatically triggers BOGO deals.

However, note that Shopify does not support adding the B product to the cart. Instead, it will show a pop-up informing customers about their eligibility, and the customer will have to click on a button to claim the extra goods manually.

The latter approach enables better automation. After detecting the qualification, an external app will automatically add the B product to the cart.

As a result, it provides buyers with more convenience, enhancing their satisfaction.

Read more: 30+ Shopify Black Friday Checklist to Prepare Your Shopify Store

Optimize for mobile shoppers.

Most online shopping activities take place on mobile devices, with 30% of global Internet users making weekly purchases on mobile phones in 2023. If you know how to take advantage of this market, you will make a lot more sales from mobile users.

To optimize the UX/UI experience on mobile, you should focus on adjusting the visual display and call-to-action (CTA) buttons. The mobile version should have simplified navigation and reduced pop-ups since the screen is smaller, with less space for widgets.

Also, it should not interrupt the loading page speed. After setting up the mobile display, test it across different devices and browsers to ensure a smooth experience.

Some merchants even work with third-party developers to build their own mobile apps.

Use retargeting ads

Retargeting ads work to promote your products to customers who came across them but did not take your desired action. This strategy uses cookies to learn about their browsing history and preferences and analyze these data to enhance your campaigns.

Throughout the customer journey, you will find multiple drop-off points. These are the common stages where potential buyers abandon their carts or simply visit your website and exit without buying anything.

Of course, this is a potential customer group that you should not leave out. If initiated properly, your retargeting ads might be able to persuade them to purchase.

In most cases, these ads will be sent as personalized email campaigns or on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The more you understand what these buyers need from your store, the more likely your Shopify Black Friday ads will win their hearts.

Implement upsell and cross-sell strategies.

Black Friday should be the perfect reason for online Shopify shops to implement upsell and cross-sell offers. While you can pair any product for the BOGO deals, setting up these complex promotion types requires more strategic planning.

Upsell offers encourage customers to buy a better, higher-end version of the chosen product, such as a more expensive laptop with premium features. Cross-selling invites them to purchase complementary or related items, e.g., a skiboard with a helmet.

Both these promotions aim to add more value to the purchase without increasing the price too high, especially with cross-selling, where you want to provide your buyers with a complete solution.

You should browse the Shopify App Store for effective apps that enable upselling and cross-selling from the pre- to post-purchase stage to maximize your revenue during Black Friday.

Read more: 25 Best Shopify Black Friday Apps to Boost Revenue (2024)

Provide free shipping

A lot of people abandon their carts because of the high shipping costs, especially when online shopping internationally. That is why a free shipping offer would intrigue them to continue with the purchase or spend more to qualify for this condition.

Since Shopify works with several delivery carriers, the system will offer suitable services depending on your store location. Each carrier has different shipping discount rates, so you should review their policies to adjust your promotions effectively.

We suggest marketing it as an independent promotion, such as “Free shipping for all weekend orders.” Or include it as an extra automatic discount when a shopping cart qualifies, e.g., “Buy $100 or more for free delivery.”

There are 2 conditions available for this deal: buy a certain product quantity or spend a minimum value to be eligible for free shipping.

Another tip is to increase the product price and reduce the shipping fee in a balanced way. Setting up such rules prompts customers to spend more and earn better shopping value, while your store benefits from happy shoppers and increased AOV.

Create limited-time flash sales.

The power of flash sales is unimaginable since they are easy and flexible to initiate but with recognizable results that can be seen shortly after.

Pre-selling only works for a specific stage, while flash sales can be run throughout the whole Shopify Black Friday campaign. This practice highlights the urgency that requires quick purchase decisions to earn the discount.

You should set a time limit for each sale, such as a 30% discount on selected collections within 3 hours. Remember to notify your customers on multiple channels, saying there will be a flash sale for collections A and B at 2 PM, ending in 3 hours.

It is best to schedule the promotions in advance in case you want to run 2 consecutive flash sales in 2 days. Make them fascinating enough to stimulate customers, but avoid overusing them so they will not only wait to purchase from flash sales.

Promote gift cards

Although automatic discounts are more convenient for both merchants and buyers, manual incentives like discount codes and gift cards are still effective in certain cases.

Since they can be saved for later use, gift cards help enhance customer engagement. When customers receive a monetary or percentage discount for their next purchase, they will likely return to your store to buy again.

Just like the free shopping promotion, you should set specific purchase conditions per order to get a gift card. Input necessary requirements and let the system automatically detect when an order qualifies for this free gift.

Even better if it includes the expiration date, such as “Available until August 31, 2024,” to encourage customers to shop again before the gift card expires, then, promote this offer on your active platforms to drive more traffic to your website.

Segment email campaigns

Despite the rise of various communication platforms, email remains one of the most effective channels. According to Forbes, 81% of companies use automated emails as a crucial part of their marketing strategies.

So, if you know how to utilize this medium during Black Friday and other campaigns, it will help increase conversion rates and boost sales from your email subscribers.

Start by segmenting different customer groups based on their locations, shopping history, etc. You must understand to whom you are sending the offers (e.g., new buyers, VIP guests, etc.) so that you can personalize the emails accordingly.

This approach is also popular and effective in enabling retargeting ad campaigns, as it applies to all stages of the customer journey and diverse customer groups. Additionally, customer segmenting for emailing would still be helpful for later use after Shopify Black Friday.

Optimize checkout process

Nowadays, the online checkout gate is not just simply for payment anymore. Many store owners make promotional efforts at this point, triggering exciting offers like in-cart and checkout upsells, after-checkout promotions, etc., to maximize sales revenue.

But even with a lot going on during checkout, it needs to be a smooth and optimized process to ensure customer satisfaction. Otherwise, they might abandon the cart with a negative impression of a poorly designed checkout procedure.

Consider the number of promotions that should appear at checkout, which should be relevant to the customer’s needs and add value to their purchase. If they want to decline, make it easy for them to say no and proceed with the next steps.

Also, double-check the checkout process to identify unwanted errors. For more convenience, you should offer various online payment methods or let customers sign up to pay at your physical store.

Our extra advice is to collect only necessary data, such as their names, email addresses, credit card information, etc., to avoid prolonging this step.

Offer exclusive discounts for VIP customers.

VIP customers are those who have been spending a lot of money on your products. They need to be treated differently from regular buyers, which means they should be able to access your Shopify Black Friday promotions earlier with heavier discounts.

Segment your customers into a special VIP group that will get a head start before everyone else during this season. Send them personalized emails with a unique link to visit discounted products and collections, while others will see them at regular prices.

This helps show your gratitude towards loyal, most engaged shoppers by offering them exclusive deals and early access. Having received all these priorities, they will continue to shop at your store and refer it positively to other potential customers.

Utilize influencer marketing

It is ideal that you expand the promotion of Shopify Black Friday to various channels, not only directly on your website but also on social media. 

That said, not every merchant has the time to build successful social media profiles for their stores. In this case, the best solution is to look for online influencers who align with your brand values and work with them to market your business on their channels.

Since 4 out of 10 people buy something after seeing it recommended by influencers, these individuals clearly have a certain impact on others’ shopping decisions. This makes them a broader and more effective form of social proof to convince other customers.

The resourceful influencer marketing industry now has many influential social media users in your respective niche. Invite them to be your online advocates by paying them a certain amount of commission or sending them free product vials.

Highlight scarcity

What if a countdown timer and all those urgent-sense practices do not seem to make a strong impact? You will need to try a different tactic: highlighting the scarcity of your promotional products during Shopify Black Friday.

Some common messages include: Only 10 items left; 15% off for the last 5 products; and Item almost out of stock—hurry up!

This strategy focuses on the limited number of products on discount, which will run out of stock shortly if customers fail to grab the deal. Sometimes, customers need a stronger boost than a countdown timer to quickly decide on purchasing something.

Run a referral program.

While many people listen to what their social media influencers recommend, your customers may also trust those they know. That is why referral programs exist: to motivate existing buyers to attract new ones and both can gain incentives.

Take advantage of special occasions like Black Friday to incentivize both the referrer and their friends and family. This strategy will enhance word-of-mouth marketing and customer loyalty, which are essential for your business growth.

After a shopper completes their purchase, you can invite them to join your referral program and give them unique referral codes or links. They can also refer your shop to their friends and family, and both parties will earn a gift when that media is used.

For instance, create an offer like “Invite friends with your link to get 30% off on both orders” to generate new and recurring sales.

You can also attract influencers and freelancers to your referral program and motivate them to promote the store and sell products on your behalf.

In this case, they should be paid reasonable commissions. Offer them a fixed amount of money per successful order (e.g., $20 per sale) or a percentage of the sale value (e.g., 10% of a $120 purchase).

Be ready for a surge in traffic.

Black Friday is the ultimate shopping season of the year, resulting in a much larger traffic stream than normal days. Your online store should be well-prepared to welcome major traffic growth from both new visitors and recurring customers.

The most important factor to consider and optimize is the page speed, which largely determines your customer satisfaction. No one wants to visit an online store that loads slowly, especially when they are eager to purchase limited-time discounted products.

Next, ensure all app integrations, widgets, and discount triggers on your website do not interrupt the shopping flow. For example, too many pop-ups or notification bars running in the background may not be as effective as expected.

Other recommended solutions include upgrading your hosting plan, compressing heavy images, minimizing CSS and JavaScript files, and reducing the number of HTTP requests.

Remember to monitor your website performance during this period so you can analyze and optimize the page timely.

Test and optimize your website

With an overwhelming of promotions to run and KPIs (key performance indicators) to track on Shopify Black Friday, you should test everything in advance before initiating. Then, visit your page as a guest to see whether the discounts operate smoothly.

What if your multiple discounts accidentally overlap with no priority? What if a customer qualifies for the free gift, but it is not automatically added to their cart?

You can never figure that out before your customers do unless you experiment with a draft campaign. Numerous problems may occur during the promotion, so you should test your configurations to ensure a frictionless experience. 

In addition, try A/B testing various discount offers in a short time to identify the higher-performing ones. Test between different CTAs, promotional content, banner designs, etc., to find the most converted options.

For example, your shoppers might buy more with a BOGO deal than to get a free gift card, or they tend to interact more with notification bars than pop-ups.

Provide exceptional customer support.

Last but not least, merchants need to set up a responsive system for customer support throughout the campaign (and other times as well). When your shoppers receive timely help with their inquiries, the conversion and satisfaction rates will surely increase.

At a basic level, your website should comprise FAQs about your shopping policy, returns and refunds, gift card eligibility, etc. Customers will check out this page when they need fundamental answers to their problems while shopping at your store.

On the other hand, you should incorporate other services like email, video call, or live chat for urgent cases. Many online shops now utilize 24/7 chatbots, but it is better to prioritize human support to deal with complicated inquiries.

Understand that great customer service contributes to the overall good impression, making customers want to return.

2. Final Word

Shopify Black Friday is indeed a special season that both merchants and buyers should not miss out on. If you know how to apply and utilize the right strategy, you can leverage the impact of this international shopping day and maximize your sales profits.

With 20 of the most helpful ideas and tips to optimize your promotional campaigns, you will encourage higher spending and boost customer satisfaction. Not only can they buy valuable products at discounted prices, but your store also increases AOV and revenue.

Overall, there is a lot to implement regarding Black Friday promotions. You just need to figure out what works best for your store through constant testing and reviews.

3. FAQs